"As you sow, so shall you reap"

It is said, “As you sow, so shall you reap”. This is the quality and secret of nature. Whether one denies or endorses, this truth does not change. Every human action is bound to have a consequence. As is the action, so is the result. As is the seed, so is the plant. If you sow one type of seed, a different type of tree will not grow. Man reaps the reaction and the result of his own actions. Everyone should, therefore, do good in order to have good results. Man today desires to have the results of all his good actions. But he does not step forward to do good actions. He forgets the consequences of sin. He steps forward to commit sinful acts. This is the level of ignorance in mankind. It is not merely the human tendency but also the quality of nature that surrounds him that leads him to commit such atrocities. People cry to God in a helpless nature saying, “Oh God, why do You put me to such suffering, anxiety and worry and test me like this?” God does not give us any pleasure or pain. Whatever you go through, pleasure or pain, it is by your own making. God is merely the witness. God is just the postman. He will hand over the covers that are addressed to you. He will deliver any card or money order that comes to you. Whatever effects the contents have on you does not have anything to do with the postman. In the same way, all that you experience is the result of your own actions. They are not given by God. However, here there is a special grace. When you pray with a pure and sacred heart selflessly, then God will take care that you get the deserved result. There is something fundamental behind pleasure and pain. Either in this life or in the previous one, based on our actions, God gives us what we deserve. 

God’s Grace Protected Draupadi

Krishna protects Draupadi

Few minutes earlier (referring to a student speaker) the 12th class boy said that Duryodhana was determined to humiliate Draupadi in an open court. At that time she started singing, “Keshava Madhava Deva Madhusudana” (Bhagavan sang these words). Draupadi cried out, “Keshava, Madhava, Narayana”. Who is Keshava? Ka + Aa + Isha = Keshava. ‘Ka’ is Brahma, ‘Aa’ is Vishnu and ‘Isha’ is Maheshwara. The One with this trinity is Keshava. God is in the form of this trinity. Parashara also stated this in a different way. Parashara said, “Ka + Isha + Va = Keshava”. Keshava is the One with the halo around the finger. Who is He? He is the form of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Keshava has curly hair. So Draupadi prayed to Keshava. Krishna heard her prayer. He thought about how to respond to her prayer, thinking, “Has she done anything before praying?” He looked into the previous history of Draupadi. 

On one Sankranti day, all people were munching sugarcane. That evening all the Gopikas, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Draupadi and others were spending a joyous time with Krishna. But Krishna, in order to test them, pretended as if His finger was cut. God always tests His devotees. The test is nothing but a taste to God. If the devotee is successful in the test, he will be the recipient of the Lord's grace. He does not conduct the test as a sign of hatred or enmity. He does it out of intense love and compassion. 

Draupadi tying the piece
of her sari on Krishna's
injured finger

As His finger was bleeding, Satyabhama, Rukmini and Jambavati watched. Satyabhama asked the servant to go inside and get a piece of cloth to tie around the finger to stop the blood. Rukmini ran the distance herself. However, Draupadi saw this and tore a piece from her own sari and tied it around the wound as a bandage. It was the thumb of the right hand. As this happened, Satyabhama and Rukmini looked at each other. They realised that they did not have the amount of love for Krishna as Draupadi had. They felt ashamed. As Draupadi had done Him a favour at that time, He thought it befitting to repay it. In this world, to receive one thing, you need to give up another. When you want a handkerchief you have to give ₹ 10 to the shopkeeper and then only will he give it to you. Similar understanding is present between the devotee and God. If you offer a segment of devotion, then God will shower infinite amount of grace on you. Kuchela also offered a handful of beaten rice and received God’s grace in abundance. 

Krishna Tulabharam

When Satyabhama had put Krishna on sale, Rukmini brought Tulsi leaves and prayed, “One may offer a leaf, a flower, a fruit or at least water to God. If it is true that You come to the rescue of the person who has devotion for You, this leaf of Tulsi shall balance Your weight.” A leaf? What is this one? Deha (the body) is Patram (a leaf).The body is the leaf with the three attributes of Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Hrudaya (heart) is a Pushpam (a flower). This flower of the heart is pure and sacred.  The Manas (mind) is Phalam (a fruit). There is a sweet juice within the fruit. But the mind does not know the taste of the juice. The taste of the juice that is present in the fruit is not known to the tree. The nectar present in the flower is not experienced by the creeper. All the sacred things mentioned in the sacred texts are not known to the worldly people. Rukmini offered the Tulsi leaf with such devout feelings. Because she could offer the Tulsi leaf with such feelings, it could equal the weight of Krishna who is the very Lord of the Universe. Rukmini could do this with selfless devotion. 

Draupadi also sacrificed with all her selflessness and spirit. Draupadi prayed and closed her eyes. The strong and brave husbands, who were close by, could not prevent the situation. She prayed that only Krishna and none else could save her. Because of the sacrifice that she had made earlier, Krishna came and saved her. That small piece of cloth that she had tied as a bandage, had changed into an unending Sari. If we do a little help, then God will return it in an abundant infinite manner. The fruits of action are inevitable. One cannot escape them. However with God's grace it is possible to escape the consequences of one’s actions to a certain extent. But as per God's command, it is written clearly that the consequences of one’s actions are inescapable. You have to face the consequences of your actions.

Source: ‘As you sow, so shall you reap’, Discourse 3, My Dear Students Volume 3; Discourse delivered on June 30, 1996